We support knowledge- and technology-intensive entrepreneurship in the fields of digital solutions, health technologies, food and wood resources, valorisation of secondary raw materials and mineral resources, and smart energy solutions.
The RDIE focus areas are research and development, innovation, and business fields that are prioritised for development in cooperation between the state, companies, and research institutions, corresponding to Estonia’s development needs and opportunities. The aim of the focus areas is to accelerate their development and contribute to addressing Estonia’s development needs through the synergy and pooling of resources arising from cooperation between companies, research institutions, and other partners. Enterprise Estonia focuses on ambitious companies operating in the RDIE focus areas.
million € allocated to support focus areas
supported projects
average added value per employee
The goal of the digital solutions across all areas of life focus area is to develop innovative and higher value-added IT systems, products, and technologies to support sectoral development and business competitiveness. Through public sector measures, the state sees the need to accelerate companies and projects that create new methods and innovative digital technologies. Ultimately, the development of the focus area is driven by technological advancements, where challenges are addressed and developed through research and development activities – whether in artificial intelligence, digital twins, or cyber-physical systems. The field has defined priority development directions and the necessary activities to support growth.
The goal of the health technologies and services focus area is to create more effective and accessible healthcare services and products, which must be evidence-based. To achieve this, it is important to support the adoption of research results and developed technologies, as well as the smart use of health data. This is research-intensive entrepreneurship that covers a wide range of activities, including the production and development of medicines and medical devices (including software-based medical devices), diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation services, information and communication technology solutions in healthcare, as well as preventive and health-supporting solutions.
The main goal of the food resource valorisation focus area is to find science-based solutions for using co-products, by-products, and residues from food production in the creation of new products. Equally important are research and development activities and technology development to valorise both plant-based and animal-based food resources and to explore the possibilities and limitations of new food sources, such as marine aquaculture, cellular agriculture, and the use of plant-based proteins. In addition, there is a need to create better knowledge and solutions to ensure food safety, shelf life, quality, and healthiness, including in relation to the impact of new packaging on food.
Wood is an important natural resource for Estonia, with its valorisation chain covering the entire value chain of wood material – from tree cultivation in the forest to the production and marketing of the final product. Therefore, it is essential to accelerate research and development in the field with the goal of maximising the use of wood raw material and creating long-lasting products. In the valorisation of wood resources focus area, priority is given to the chemical and molecular valorisation of wood, where valuable substances are extracted from wood to be used in the production of new bio-based products. Another important direction is science-based forestry, to cultivate local wood resources in the best possible growing conditions. Additionally, the development of innovative solutions for the use of wood as a secondary raw material and waste is of strategic importance.
The goal of the mineral resources focus area is to create higher value for underground materials and subsurface properties in domestic and export markets through research, development, and entrepreneurship, while taking into account the principles of sustainable development and the need to preserve biodiversity. The development of the field supports studies of primary raw materials, including phosphorite, oil shale, metal ores, and peat, as well as sustainable application opportunities and their use in the chemical industry. Equally important are development activities that help find innovative ways to sustainably utilise geothermal energy and groundwater, and to introduce mineral mining by-products and valorise production side streams.
The goal of the secondary raw materials and waste focus area is to strengthen the circular economy and accelerate the creation of science-based solutions and technologies. Priority is given to solutions that extend the lifespan of materials and products, enable product reuse, recycle waste as material, or create higher added value for waste on the market. Of strategic importance in this focus area is also the development of innovative monitoring methods for secondary raw material and waste streams, as well as the use of relevant data methodologies in the transition to circular business models.
The goal of the energy solutions focus area is to create science-based solutions that enable the production, storage, and use of energy in an environmentally sustainable way. Priority is given to development activities that support climate-neutral energy production, improve energy efficiency, or increase security of supply. Energy solutions refer to technical solutions related to electricity, heat, and transport energy needs, regardless of whether they are applied in energy generation, storage, conversion, transmission, system management, or end use.
The goal of the digital solutions across all areas of life focus area is to develop innovative and higher value-added IT systems, products, and technologies to support sectoral development and business competitiveness. Through public sector measures, the state sees the need to accelerate companies and projects that create new methods and innovative digital technologies. Ultimately, the development of the focus area is driven by technological advancements, where challenges are addressed and developed through research and development activities – whether in artificial intelligence, digital twins, or cyber-physical systems. The field has defined priority development directions and the necessary activities to support growth.
The goal of the health technologies and services focus area is to create more effective and accessible healthcare services and products, which must be evidence-based. To achieve this, it is important to support the adoption of research results and developed technologies, as well as the smart use of health data. This is research-intensive entrepreneurship that covers a wide range of activities, including the production and development of medicines and medical devices (including software-based medical devices), diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation services, information and communication technology solutions in healthcare, as well as preventive and health-supporting solutions.
The main goal of the food resource valorisation focus area is to find science-based solutions for using co-products, by-products, and residues from food production in the creation of new products. Equally important are research and development activities and technology development to valorise both plant-based and animal-based food resources and to explore the possibilities and limitations of new food sources, such as marine aquaculture, cellular agriculture, and the use of plant-based proteins. In addition, there is a need to create better knowledge and solutions to ensure food safety, shelf life, quality, and healthiness, including in relation to the impact of new packaging on food.
Wood is an important natural resource for Estonia, with its valorisation chain covering the entire value chain of wood material – from tree cultivation in the forest to the production and marketing of the final product. Therefore, it is essential to accelerate research and development in the field with the goal of maximising the use of wood raw material and creating long-lasting products. In the valorisation of wood resources focus area, priority is given to the chemical and molecular valorisation of wood, where valuable substances are extracted from wood to be used in the production of new bio-based products. Another important direction is science-based forestry, to cultivate local wood resources in the best possible growing conditions. Additionally, the development of innovative solutions for the use of wood as a secondary raw material and waste is of strategic importance.
The goal of the mineral resources focus area is to create higher value for underground materials and subsurface properties in domestic and export markets through research, development, and entrepreneurship, while taking into account the principles of sustainable development and the need to preserve biodiversity. The development of the field supports studies of primary raw materials, including phosphorite, oil shale, metal ores, and peat, as well as sustainable application opportunities and their use in the chemical industry. Equally important are development activities that help find innovative ways to sustainably utilise geothermal energy and groundwater, and to introduce mineral mining by-products and valorise production side streams.
The goal of the secondary raw materials and waste focus area is to strengthen the circular economy and accelerate the creation of science-based solutions and technologies. Priority is given to solutions that extend the lifespan of materials and products, enable product reuse, recycle waste as material, or create higher added value for waste on the market. Of strategic importance in this focus area is also the development of innovative monitoring methods for secondary raw material and waste streams, as well as the use of relevant data methodologies in the transition to circular business models.
The goal of the energy solutions focus area is to create science-based solutions that enable the production, storage, and use of energy in an environmentally sustainable way. Priority is given to development activities that support climate-neutral energy production, improve energy efficiency, or increase security of supply. Energy solutions refer to technical solutions related to electricity, heat, and transport energy needs, regardless of whether they are applied in energy generation, storage, conversion, transmission, system management, or end use.
